Filter for dog hair?

Kauai Breeze
by Kauai Breeze
My furnace has a cold air return at the end of a hall. With 2 dogs it is always sucking in tons of dog hair. My furnace man says not to put a filter behind the vent because the furnace has a much better filter and we don't want to block the air intake. The problem with the furnace filter is it costs $75 to replace (plus the service fee). Does anyone know of a way to catch the dog hair before it gets sucked into the vent so we don't have to replace the expensive filter so often?

  7 answers
  • Amanda Amanda on Oct 05, 2017

    You can try to frame mesh screening with wood to the size of the vent. Just place it over the vent and then remove to clean the dog hair off.

  • KattywhampusLOL KattywhampusLOL on Oct 05, 2017

    Perhaps you could put a pretty piece of lace IN FRONT OF the cold air intake and it would catch more hair than is being taken in plus it wouldn't block the intake as badly as a regular filter (and it could be shaken outside to get the hair off and the birds and squirrels could use that hair for nesting).

  • Buy the furnace filters and replace yourself. Unless tou have some sort of contract, you can do this yourself and save a TON of money! I replace my filter once a month and I have 6 cats, 6 dogs, a canary and a dragon. Also vacuum out the intake once a month, or more often if necessary.

  • Ebbjdl Ebbjdl on Oct 05, 2017

    I would vacuum the returns quite often, to keep the hair from entering the vent.

  • 27524803 27524803 on Oct 05, 2017

    Most home improvement stores have replacement air filters that are basic sizes (ex: 20x30) and are washable as well.

    Make a decorative wooden frame that would mount over your cold air return and use nylon netting ( not tulle..available at most fabric stores) stretched in the frame, vacuum and wash as needed

  • Robert Rusk Robert Rusk on Oct 05, 2017

    GI could be wrong, but if I'm thinking of what your explaining, girl put that filter in there and say nanny nanny poo poo to whomever told you that. Lol it sounds like they just want your unit to get plugged up so you will need to call them back to me. When we had an intake that was lower I would vacuumed the outside of it, then open it and vacuum the back side that's against the filter every time I vacumed. Takes maybe 3 min. We never had a lick of trouble. GOOD LUCK....Gigi

  • Ginny Ginny on Oct 05, 2017

    I have heard of putting cheesecloth on the back of the vent with double-sided tape and changing cloth often - every month. Person who told me said it really works.